Computing and E-Safety
We cover the three inter-related strands of the National Computing Curriculum:
- Computer Science
- Information Technology
- Digital Literacy
All children at St Edburgs have Computing lessons, with nearly all year groups being taught by a subject specialist. Computing skills are embedded across the curriculum. When appropriate, Computing projects link to year group topics.
Our intent is to develop learners who can combine practical IT skills with imagination and creativity. Children develop their ideas through creative projects, from interactive games and quizzes using PowerPoint, ScratchJR, Scratch and Python, to audio recording and editing, animations, interactive adventure games and film-making.
Children are taught how to work in an organised and efficient way. They learn how to open and save work to and from shared network areas and the cloud. They learn to be creative coders, who work systematically, carefully and logically. Collaboration is key. As a consequence of lockdown, children have now had the opportunity to develop and practise a wide range of online learning skills, including safe, respectful and positive learning behaviour during online meetings, completing online assignments independently and working collaboratively. We will continue to build on these skills in school.
Children are encouraged to experiment and to understand the power of 'undo'- to become comfortable learning from their mistakes and trying new things.
Children learn how to look after themselves physically and mentally online, and how to keep themselves safe and happy. This includes when to take breaks, how to sit at and use devices, and how to monitor their own use of screens, with an awareness of how addictive they can be. A balanced approach to the use of technology is promoted. They learn about safe online behaviours based around content, contact and conduct. They consider what to share, who to speak to online and how, the reliability of online information and most importantly, who to speak to if they have a problem.
Children learn to take responsibility for IT equipment. All classes have access to iPads, and we have a bank of laptops for each key stage. We have a large number of programmable robots. Children are taught how to look after, set up and login to these devices.
Over the course of this year we will be developing pupil digital leaders, and ensuring that pupils have a voice in the continuing development of the curriculum.
Children also consider how technology is used and could be used in the real world, including in school, at home and in the wider world. They learn through real life examples of technology metaphors, and find out about possible career options linked to Computing.
